New York Jews and people throughout the world making a stand for Palestine
In response to Israel closing down internet and mobile phone access throughout Gaza, on Friday night 27th October, thousands of Jewish people and allies forced Grand Central Station in New York to close as they occupied the station’s main hall in a peaceful and powerful protest organised by the New York Chapter of US based Jewish Voice for Peace. They blocked the station and the streets outside were also full of protesters.
The main demand was for an immediate ceasefire and there were clear statements that Genocide and Occupation are not Jewish values and that the pulverisation of Gaza was not happening in their name.
Those attending included Rabbis who launched the sit in by lighting Shabbat candles and reciting the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead.
“While Shabbat is typically a day of rest, we cannot afford to rest while genocide is unfolding in our names,” said Rabbi May Ye in a statement released by JVP.
“The lives of Palestinians and Israelis are intertwined, and safety can only come from justice, equality, and freedom for all.”
Between 200 and 300 were arrested and they continued shouting “Let Gaza Live” and “What Do We Want – Ceasefire; When Do We Want It – Now” as they were lined up in their wrist restraints to be processed.
On Saturday, enormous protests have been held throughout the world calling for a ceasefire and for the humanitarian aid needed to flow into Gaza. The people of Gaza feel abandoned and forgotten and now they cannot see the impressive images from the millions and millions of people taking to their streets, sometimes in defiance of their own government’s edicts (eg in Germany where pro-Palestinian protests have been prohibited) and sometimes with the encouragement of their governments.
Our thanks to The Guardian for this short video of the New York protests
We salute our American comrades who, with the clampdown of free speech on Palestine, despite clauses enshrining this freedom in the US constitution, are taking risks with their jobs and places at Universities.
Meanwhile in London on 28th October, the third weekly national demonstration brought out hundreds of thousands of people again. More demonstrations and vigils were going on throughout the UK and the world. Next week UK supporters will be in their localities and then, if this barbarism has not ended, back on the streets again on 11th November. This is just part of the demonstration. We are angry, we are upset and we are determined.
y
Have watched BBC News and Channel four news tonight and no mention of the demos all across the world – nor of course the impressive one of New Yorkers. All our British mainstream news is deeply biassed .
Praise God ! At last we are waking up. Too little too late perhaps for Palestine, but perhaps this shift will change policies on the future elsewhere.
So Pleased to see the true spirit of Judaism is still alive
With electricity and fuel cut off from Gaza drinking water was going to run out and internet and mobile connections were made more difficult. Then internet and mobile networks were cut off. This didn’t stop an IDF spokesman issuing an “urgent message for the residents of Gaza”, available to everyone in the world, apart from people in Gaza, in ‘an urgent plea’ that people in Gaza, must move south for their own protection. He spoke calmly as if refraining from carrying out the imminent slaughter of the innocent was beyond his and Israel’s control.
Beautiful to see.
Really eoncouraging to see the protest in New York and sorry to hear people arrested…for what???? just for protesting probably. I was on the London demo. People are appalled and angry at the attacks on Palestinians. How would these despicable politicians feel if their children were getting bombed to bits?
The ease with which governments and their media accomplices can repress such humanitarian calls for peace and justice involving millions around the world should be a real wake up call for us all. No wonder communications have been targeted in Gaza, the extreme right wing Israeli government do not want the world to witness the slaughter of civilians. Which other injustices in the world are being hidden from us? Genocide in Sudan? (Mis)information is a weapon of war and a way of controlling a population, through manufactured fear and exceptionalism. Until people realise this it will continue to be used against the common good to maintain elite privilege for the few. And we are running out of time. How many seconds before midnight has humanity got left? As the existential threats of climate change and nuclear war grow stronger, people need the truth to make the right decisions. We have to urgently change this manipulation of knowledge if we want a world where crimes against humanity apply equally to all nations, so are universally upheld, and we can all live to our full potential. I have faith in the natural goodness of people but they can only act if they are aware.